Teen dances one last time before losing leg to bone cancer

Eastern High School senior Austin Hewitt will undergo below-the-knee amputation due to Ewing sarcoma. He performed in the fall show choir performance recently.
Jenna Watson, jenna.watson@indystar.com

Buy Photo

Senior student Austin Hewitt warms up before Eastern High School's fall show choir concert in Greentown, Ind., Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018. In October, Hewitt will undergo amputation of one leg below the knee, a result of his second battle with Ewing sarcoma bone cancer. (Photo11: Jenna Watson/IndyStar)Buy Photo

GREENTOWN — The dazzling stage lights seemed as if they were only for Austin Hewitt.

His bald head was shining beneath them, but not as brightly as his smile.

He kicked his left leg into the air. He twirled. He thrust his arms up to the sky. He skipped down the risers and landed front and center stage to belt out his solo to "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious."

Austin is a brilliant performer. A brilliant dancer. As he danced Wednesday night, a senior at his fall show choir concert, it was bittersweet.

This night the curtain was falling.

Austin was tiny, barely big enough to walk when he began bursting into song and dance. His family called him Elvis, for the way he wiggled his little hips.

He's been in more civic theatre performances than can be counted. He made the elite show choir Encore Singers as a freshman, a coup at Eastern High School, where he performed Wednesday.

Buy Photo

Center, senior student Austin Hewitt performs in Eastern High School's fall show choir concert in Greentown, Ind., Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018. In October, Hewitt will undergo amputation of one leg below the knee, a result of his second battle with Ewing sarcoma bone cancer. (Photo11: Jenna Watson/IndyStar)

"Austin lives and breathes dancing," said his mom, Tonya Hewitt.

As he performed Wednesday with a smile and gusto, Austin knew something unimaginable.

He knew that this night would be the last time he ever dances like this. The last time he dances on his own two legs.

In two weeks, Austin's left leg will be amputated below the knee.

In his second fight

Austin fought valiantly. He beat the bone cancer once. In June 2017, he was declared free of the Ewing sarcoma that had invaded his toe the year before.

He rang the bell, the one that tolls a cancer victory, dancing his way down the halls of Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health. Nurses cheered. His family cried.

Austin Hewitt, then 17, celebrated being declared cancer free in June of 2017.(Photo11: Provided by Hewitt family)

Austin had beaten cancer, but he had lost a lot to the disease. His big toe had been amputated. His time with friends and at school had been cut short. He'd been so sick and weak from the chemotherapy, some days were a blur.

But Austin became wiser. He had a new outlook on life. On the year anniversary of his diagnosis in August of 2017, he talked about what hearing the words “You have cancer” felt like.

"The shock of it doesn’t hit for a little while. Once it hits, it’s pretty devastating," he said. "You start to do the ‘what ifs’ and the ‘whys’ and your mind starts racing with everything while trying to comprehend what’s going on.”

He also talked about what cancer had taught him.

“I value people more,” he said. “I now understand the good of having people in your life that are good influences and keep you positive. I value life more.”

Austin valued being healthy.

And so, back at Riley in June, Austin was feeling blessed for his good health. It was almost exactly one year since he had heard the words "cancer-free."

Buy Photo

Top right, senior student Austin Hewitt performs in Eastern High School's fall show choir concert in Greentown, Ind., Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018. In October, Hewitt will undergo amputation of one leg below the knee, a result of his second battle with Ewing sarcoma bone cancer. (Photo11: Jenna Watson/IndyStar)

He was at the hospital for the CAT scans, MRIs and blood work that he has done every three months.

They all had been clear.

But on June 15, the MRI revealed a tumor in Austin’s foot, the same foot as before. This time, it was in the talus, the bone that makes up the lower part of the ankle joint.

"As you can imagine, we are all in shock," his grandma Linda Flodder said at the time. "Why does a young man who fought so hard the first time have to fight this again?"

A tough decision

Chemotherapy was started. Doctors wanted to see if the tumor would shrink. They told Austin that amputation was a possibility.

Austin vowed that wasn't an option. He is a dancer. His feet and legs are his tools of life, the medium for his passion.

But the doctors at Riley told Austin, as matter-of-factly and as gently as they could, the dire prognosis.

Austin Hewitt poses for a photo just days after finding out his cancer had returned.(Photo11: Provided by Hewitt family)

Without a leg amputation, the cancer likely would continue to spread. Without the leg, he had a chance at life.

Austin had a tough decision, an unthinkable decision to make. Reluctantly, he agreed.

But he doesn't think about that. At least he tries not to.

"I'm feeling very blessed that I'm able to perform this last time before I have to wait a while to do it again," he said before the concert Wednesday. "I have soaked up every minute of these past two months, loving every minute".

And it's not just the dancing. Not even close. It's the people he gets to dance with.

"Austin is one of the most energetic people I've ever met, despite his circumstances," said Meredith Middleton, a senior in Encore Singers."I love any chance I get to be his partner. He always goes all in."

Buy Photo

Second from right, Austin Hewitt and other senior students throw their hands in the air after circling for a pep chant and prayer before Eastern High School's fall show choir concert in Greentown, Ind., Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018. In June 2017, Hewitt was declared free of the Ewing sarcoma cancer that led to his toe being amputated. One year later, Ewitt learned the cancer was back in his leg and will soon undergo amputation below the knee.(Photo11: Jenna Watson/IndyStar)

Sophomore Caleb Vogl said Austin is an inspiration to all those around.

"I spend every moment I can with him," he said. "(Austin) always know how to cheer us up."

Yes. Austin, the one fighting cancer, cheers them up.

"We are all together in Austin's fight against cancer," said senior Casey Clark. "And are praying constantly for him."

His friends pray -- and they watch in awe.

"Austin is probably the strongest person I've ever met in my life," said Gavin Vandeventer, a junior. "He has just been so positive and strong throughout all of this. He is just so amazing."

The day his life changed

Austin had danced at his prom in April 2016 the night before he first saw the cancer.

He didn't know it was cancer then. It seemed like some type of sore on his big toe. He thought he must have stubbed it or someone might have stepped on it during the night of dancing. But the sore didn't go away.

It grew bigger and bigger. His toe was purplish and puffy. He could barely fit it into his shoe.

When Austin Hewitt was first diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma at 16, it had invaded his toe.(Photo11: Provided by Hewitt family)

A doctor diagnosed gout and gave him medicine. The toe got worse. In severe pain, Austin was sent for an MRI, then a biopsy.

His mom got the call just before Labor Day. Her son's swollen toe harbored a rare form of bone cancer, Ewing sarcoma.

Most often, Ewing sarcoma shows up in bones or the soft tissue surrounding them — usually in the long bones of the pelvis, legs or arms. But it can settle into any bone.

On his 16th birthday that September, Austin was at Riley getting his chemo port put in and having a bone marrow biopsy. He spent numerous days in a hospital bed, nauseated and weak. He had setbacks and was put in intensive care.

Buy Photo

Second from right, Austin Hewitt and other senior students throw their hands in the air after circling for a pep chant and prayer before Eastern High School's fall show choir concert in Greentown, Ind., Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018. In June 2017, Hewitt was declared free of the Ewing sarcoma cancer that led to his toe being amputated. One year later, Ewitt learned the cancer was back in his leg and will soon undergo amputation below the knee.(Photo11: Jenna Watson/IndyStar)

Inside the high school choir room, Austin's spot was left empty, reminding members of the Encore Singers to think of him, said Karol Evenson, choir director at Eastern.

"We had to reschedule chemo just so he could be at the concerts," Tonya Hewitt said. "Because missing one? That's not an option for him."

Now, that has changed. Austin knows concerts and dancing are the extras in life. The bonuses.

After Wednesday's performance, he has to focus on life — period.

Next week, he will start his fourth round of chemo, a dose every day for five days.

The week after that, he will lose his leg in an amputation below the knee. And then for the next year, he will have chemo every three weeks for five days.

He won't be dancing and, while it hurts, it's OK. His friends in the choir will still be a part of him.

"We absolutely love to have Austin and his amazing voice and energy with us and it's always super hard when he's not there," said Middleton. "We're always praying for him and are so happy at the small miracles that have been taking place with him. He is a miracle in motion."